Bringing Back the Dead

Colossal Biosciences Claims “De-Extinction” of Dire Wolf: A US-based company claims to have revived traits of the extinct dire wolf by genetically engineering grey wolf pups.

Birth of Modified Wolf Pups: Three pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, were born in late 2024 with edited DNA.

Genetic Engineering Process:

• DNA was extracted from ancient dire wolf fossils (11,500 to 72,000 years old).
• The dire wolf genome was reconstructed and compared to closely related canids. Grey wolves share 99.5% of DNA similarity.
• Scientists made 20 unique edits to 14 genes in the grey wolf genome to mimic dire wolf traits like coat color, size, and musculature.
• Modified embryos were implanted into surrogate dog mothers.

De-Extinction Definition: The process of reviving extinct species using biotechnology, including gene editing, cloning, or back-breeding.

Potential Benefits (India): De-extinction could aid in restoring keystone species to rebalance ecosystems and boost biodiversity.

Ethical Concerns:

• Potential ecosystem disruption.
• Animal welfare issues.
• Resource diversion from conserving extant endangered species.

Global Initiatives: The Lazarus Project collaborates with Indian researchers on reviving the extinct Himalayan Quail.

International Frameworks: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) urges caution, prioritizing habitat protection over de-extinction.

Why in News: This initiative highlights the advancements and controversies surrounding de-extinction, sparking debates about its potential benefits and risks for biodiversity and conservation efforts.